Reservists angered by IDF’s move to cut bonuses

Due to the massive call-up during Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip, the bonus given to IDF reserve soldiers for their service in 2012 will be significantly smaller than in 2011, the army has announced, eliciting protests from reservists and politicians alike.

In addition to payment for every day of active service, reservists are given bonuses based on their time in uniform. The funds are transferred to soldiers’ bank accounts on May 1 of every year.

But the rise in the number of reservists called up during November’s Gaza offensive — thousands more than in 2011 — meant that the NIS 300 million (over $80 million) doled out annually by the army would be divided among more people, the IDF said in a statement Wednesday.

In 2011, the bonus for a reservist who served 15-19 days of reserve duty was NIS 2,580 ($700), but in 2012, those who served 10-17 days will receive only NIS 1,308 ($360) — just above half the previous year’s sum.

The IDF said the state was responsible for funding the bonuses and had not made any special allocations due to Pillar of Defense. “If the army receives more funds for this matter, the bonuses will grow proportionally,” the statement said.

Deputy Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot pledged Thursday to lead the effort to obtain the missing funds. Talks on the matter were scheduled throughout the day.

Economics Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home), a reservist officer in one of the army’s elite commando units, wrote in an urgent letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the government should supply the required funds.

“In these days especially, when there is a need to maintain the volunteering spirit among Israel’s citizens, I think we can all agree on the need to safeguard the rights of our reservists,” he wrote. “I won’t tolerate the negative impact on reservists who fought in Pillar of Defense. The reservists’ enlistment to defend our home should merit an increase — certainly not a reduction.” 

Maoz Koren, a reserve officer, told Israel Hayom that there was irony in the fact that the law required that call-ups for reserve duty be given 60 days in advance, while an announcement that compensation for such duty was being cut could be delivered a mere two weeks before payment was expected.

Many soldiers opt out of reserve duty, and those who do serve tend to encounter difficulty in taking the time off work, Koren said. “But, regardless, the guys reported and will report to duty when called. Why? Because they know that at the end of the day, no one else can do the job.”

Cutting the reservists’ bonuses sends “a distorted message” if Israel wants to encourage all sectors in society to contribute, MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) said. “We can’t accept a situation in which the small number of reservists aren’t rewarded properly.”